The force confirmed they had been called to a ‘small number’ of events and that two teenagers had been arrested, while the St Peter honorary police were called to a party on land belonging to the National Trust for Jersey and also followed up on multiple reports of antisocial behaviour.
During the Easter weekend, the police disrupted a party near Grève de Lecq which reportedly had around 100 people in attendance.
Under the government’s current Covid restrictions Islanders can gather in groups of up to 20 in other people’s homes, gardens and in outdoor spaces.
A spokesperson for the States police said: ‘Over the weekend, the States police were informed of a small number of noisy parties and while the majority were managed in other ways, it was necessary to attend two – one in St Helier and one in St Brelade; arrests were made at both. In St Brelade, a 16-year-old male was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and in St Helier a 17-year-old male was arrested for assaulting a police officer and for being drunk and disorderly. Both were later released with parish hall inquiries.’
Chief Inspector Chris Beechey said: ‘Our plans for when Covid restrictions relaxed always allowed for the fact that greater socialising, and subsequent increase in alcohol consumption, can correlate with an increase in antisocial behaviour, and officers are prepared to respond as such. We continue to work alongside colleagues including the honorary police and the Infrastructure, Housing and Environment Department to respond to these situations and protect both Islanders and our environment. However, an enforcement response to this must not be seen as the solution. Islanders must take responsibility for their own actions and ensure they are behaving respectfully to both other people and their environment.’
St Peter Chef de Police João Camara said his team had been called to a number of incidents at the weekend, including a party and barbecue taking place near the Frances Le Sueur Centre, which is owned by the National Trust for Jersey, in St Ouen’s Bay. Barbecues and open fires are prohibited on such land.
He said: ‘Everyone is free to enjoy the nice weather, but we must do so responsibly. Everyone has the perception that Covid is over but there are still restrictions in place which we must adhere to.’
Mr Camara said there had been an increase in the number of people found walking along the Five Mile Road in a drunken and disorderly state over the past few weekends.
‘St Ouen’s Bay is a hotspot for barbecues and parties throughout the summer and in recent weeks we have noticed more people walking along the road in the dark,’ he said.
‘It is a 40mph road and it can be dangerous. People need to make sure they are responsible when walking along the road and must stick to the footpaths.’
Charles Alluto, chief executive of the National Trust for Jersey, said the public should be able to enjoy the countryside but must learn to respect it.
‘We don’t want to discourage people from using this land and the many stunning locations the Island has to offer. The message is about education, not prevention,’ he said. ‘You should be able to go out with your friends and enjoy the weather. But people must be conscious of the surrounding environment.’
Mr Alluto added that the main issue for the trust was littering.
‘People should leave an area in a state that is usable for others. Leaving rubbish is harmful to the environment and things like glass bottles can hurt people and the surrounding wildlife,’ he said.
